We are to come into the saving knowledge of God by faith, in the truth that Jesus died and paid our debt for the sins that we owed for our rebellion. When we believe and trust in the completed work of Christ, we will no longer live for self but for God. Our old selfish, self-focused, arrogant person must die and no longer live to satisfy itself, but to live a life worthy of being called a child of the Most-High God, and joint heirs with Jesus. When we die to our own agenda we can start operating in God’s ministry of reconciliation, by living a life that will witness to the loss and show the love and saving grace of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
The symbolic meaning of the baptism is, that we are dead to the things of this world, and our bodies are buried in the liquid grave of water, of the Holy Spirit, and then we rise into the new life in Christ. Many people have gone through the motions of baptism physically but in their mind and soul they are still living according to their flesh and of this natural fallen world, refusing to die to the things that are at enmity with God. Dead things are buried, and as true followers of Jesus, we are dead to sin, but alive in Christ.
Romans 6:5-11 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The whole meaning of death is that something ceased to be, it is the permanent ending of something, and that something is our bondage to sin, that we were once enslaved to. Prior to life in Christ, we had no control over sin, but we were trapped, incarcerated, and caged by it. But now, through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit we can call on the power of the Almighty God to set us free from the things that had us bound.
The true test of conversion, transformation or faith in Christ is that we become altered and are changed into new creation and we change the way we think. If old things remain the same, and nothing becomes different, then we must question if we truly have a saving knowledge, faith, trust and belief in God’s salvation. When we choose to submit our will to obey God’s word and to be led by Him, it is the power of the Holy Spirit that changes us. It is not something we can do on our own or in our own strength and though it may be a slow process, the Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirit that we are being changed.
Romans12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Our old way of seeing people, old prejudices, biases, and the way we look at situations, our natural affinities and affections that were based on a fallen world system are changed. All things are made new because we have a new perspective, that is Christ-centered, with God’s kingdom perception and standpoint. We now have a new mindset, our minds are being transformed, and we now have a new family, we are adopted with all the rights and opportunity afforded by Jesus. We are now children of God in the family of God. Our focus is no longer on the welfare of only self, nor do we live in covetousness, or being overly sensitive and easily offended. We are now being transformed to look like our Heavenly Father, to speak like Him, act like Him and to walk in His ways and that of Jesus.
Romans8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Old things pass away when the Holy Spirit of God, who now lives within us, bears witness to the truth that we are children of the Most-High God and His Spirit abides in us. The lies of this world can no longer hide behind the mask of race, gender, financial or social status built on deceit, deceptions and slander against God and those created in His image.
Many people fail to surrender to the truth of the Holy Spirit, yet they want the comfort, grace and peace that He brings, but they refuse to obey God’s word and God’s way in their situations or circumstances. When we line-up our actions with truth, then the power of God’s Holy Spirit will bring redemption and salvation through the completed work of Christ. His Spirit will come and bear witness to this truth that is in us to others.
Father, let Your Holy Spirit be born again in me, Renew, Regenerate, and Restore a new life in me. Let the old fallen ways die in us that we may become new creatures in Christ. God of all grace who is Mighty in power, let us come to You when we are weary. Help us not be overly sensitive or easily offended by the vailed words of sarcasm, cynicism and rancor of others, but create in us a clean heart, renew a spirit of love, mercy, grace and forgiveness. Let our hearts be sensitive to Your Holy Spirit in us. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Leave a Reply